Commodore 64 conversions of various gamebooks are here.  These include 5 Fighting Fantasy titles, 2 Way of the Tiger, 1 Lone Wolf, 1 Falcon and 1 for Duelmaster.

Fighting Fantasy Book 2 : The Citadel of Chaos

You get the standard Skill, Stamina and Luck stats (random each time) and then press the relevant key to make choices as you play the game.  Quite simple but has the feel of a gamebook, it’s just a shame it plays a little too slow.... 

Fighting Fantasy Book 3 : The Forest of Doom

You get the standard Skill, Stamina and Luck stats (random each time) and then press the relevant key to make choices as you play the game.  Quite simple but has the feel of a gamebook, it’s just a shame it plays a little too slow.... 

Fighting Fantasy Book 14 : The Temple of Terror

This seems to be a standard graphic & text adventure in which you must type the right phrases to progress through the game.  Although I dabbled with this sort of game before, they aren’t really my cup of tea so I don’t know if this game is any good or not.

Fighting Fantasy Book 16 : Seas of Blood

This seems to be a standard graphic & text adventure in which you must type the right phrases to progress through the game.  Although I dabbled with this sort of game before, they aren’t really my cup of tea so I don’t know if this game is any good or not.

Fighting Fantasy Book 18 : Rebel Planet

This seems to be a standard graphic & text adventure in which you must type the right phrases to progress through the game.  Although I dabbled with this sort of game before, they aren’t really my cup of tea so I don’t know if this game is any good or not.

Lone Wolf : The Mirror of Death

This game is actually a platform game.  A very bad platform game.  The Commodore 64 could do games like this much better.  Even the inclusion of choosing your own Kai skills is little consolation.  At least Audiogenic did the excellent Emlyn Hughes’ International Soccer so I can forgive them anything - just.

Avenger

This is definitely the pick of the crop when it comes down to C64 gamebooks.  It’s basically a gauntlet clone but with more plot.  Colourful graphics and a neat Ben Daglish tune make this instantly playable.  Better than Gaunlet, just not quite as good as Druid.  However, the game is good in its own right, regardless of The Way of the Tiger gamebook licence.

The Way of the Tiger

Gremlin Graphics were, in my opinion, one of the best Commodore 64 game publishers about.  However, this is strictly average beat-em-up fodder.  The multiload tape version is a bit confusing to load and the game is mediocre.  Sadly, it just doesn’t compare to The Way of the Exploding Fist or IK+.

Falcon : The Renegade Lord

Average game.  A sort of collect and shoot’em’up type game that I believe took a age to release.  There are various time zones to explore, it’s just a pity that nothing exciting happens!  I wonder what Mark Smith and Jamie Thomson thought of it?

Duelmaster : Blood Valley

Oh dear.  A small playing area is not a good sign.  Maybe the two player option is better? (except I’d have to pay someone to play this with me!). Blood Valley is basically a very simple game with no saving graces at all.  You pick a character, you reach a junction, you feel asleep.  ‘Nuff said!

Summary:-

Well, unless you like text adventures, I can only recommend Avenger as a gamebook C64 game worth trying.  A game like Times of Lore by Microprose/Origin is what I feel a gamebook on an 80s computer should be like.  The freedom to explore and solve quests is envigorating!  Failing that, maybe something like Master of Magic by Mastertronic is another avenue to try.  Overall though, Commodore 64 gamebooks weren’t that good at all.  What a wasted opportunity!

Other 8-bit home computers:-

My knowledge of the games of the Spectrum, Amstrad, Atari and the other home computer of the 1980s is not that great (but then the Commodore 64 was the best!).  I am aware though that Flight From the Dark and Fire on the Water (both Lone Wolf) and The Warlock of Firetop Mountain (Fighting Fantasy) were released on the Spectrum.

Commodore 64 Cover Scans:-

Also within my website are:-

Please click here for Mithrandir’s Gamebook Grotto
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